AUTOSPORT Awards 2014: Lewis Hamilton wins British Driver

Hamilton claimed the award for the third time in his career, and is also a frontrunner in the International Racing Driver of the Year category, which will be announced later in the evening.

He was presented with his trophy by ex-F1 racer turned broadcaster Martin Brundle.

On receiving his award Hamilton said: "I'm thrilled being up here a two time world champion - I remember being here when I was 10. It was back in 1995 but was exactly the same then.

"We had an amazing season and were fortunate to have the best team and the best car. When I [spoke] with Niki [Lauda] and with Ross [Brawn] and discussed the plans for the future I knew it was the right choice [to join Mercedes for 2013]."

Hamilton explained that for him the defining moment of the season came after contact with Nico Rosberg at the Belgian Grand Prix: "We had trouble in Spa that was really do or die. I had a great competitor in Nico and I look forward to racing him next year."

Hamilton's F1 title headlined an extraordinary year of success for British racing drivers, with sportscar racing also generating a world champion for the nation as Anthony Davidson claimed the World Endurance crown alongside Toyota team-mate Sebastien Buemi.

The F1 support categories were also dominated by Britons, as Jolyon Palmer and Alex Lynn claimed the GP2 and GP3 titles respectively.

All four champions were contenders for the British Competition Driver prize, along with Hamilton's F1 rival Jenson Button and IndyCar race-winner and WEC frontrunner Mike Conway.

Hamilton won his second F1 world championship after a season-long fight with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

The German drew ahead in the middle of the campaign and was 29 points clear after Hamilton came off worst in a collision between them at the Belgian Grand Prix.

But Hamilton rebounded with a string of five straight victories thereafter, and by the time he clinched the title with victory in Abu Dhabi, he had won 11 of the season's 19 races.